The "V" footwork: How to Get it Through my Thick Head?

[Djokovicfan4life]

I've been trying to improve my sub par footwork and I'm really seeing improvements so far. My anticipation is improving and my step outs are getting stronger every day. But I've still got a huge problem. I can't seem to move towards the ball in a "V" shape, as I know I should. But my thick head can't seem to get my body to do this. I stay glued to the baseline and let the ball play me like a drum more often than not.

So my question is, are there any drills that will absolutely force me to do this until I finally get it right?

Matt

 

[dcjaybutchdc]

mhmmm i must suck at footwork if i dont know what V means. what is it?

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

It means that when you move side to side you move forward in the court as well, sort of towards the net posts, if I'm not mistaken. This cuts down the angles and reduces the amount of court you have to cover throughout your matches. But like I said, I just can't seem to get it without a specific drill to finally get it working.

 

[pushing_wins]

dj

have you posted a video yet?

i did a search, nothing

what level are you?

 

[nalbyvsfed]

well, i think i f you take the ball on the rise you will automaticaly do this.

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

well, i think i f you take the ball on the rise you will automaticaly do this.

I take the ball on the rise when I can, but this V footwork I'm referring to is used by all the top players, Nadal included. I wouldn't exactly say he takes the ball on the rise.

BB, where are you? I know you won't shy away from a footwork thread!

 

[nalbyvsfed]

i havent got the time to be on the forum for long.

 

[Solat]

buy a spike of safety cones (markers) and put them in an arc around the court where you dont want to run, rally whilst staying inside the cones.

make sure you taper the outer cones inward to force you to cut off angles.

it's helpful to have a object that can be seen in your peripheral vision or you can feel underfoot to alarm you when you are outside of your targetted moving area

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

buy a spike of safety cones (markers) and put them in an arc around the court where you dont want to run, rally whilst staying inside the cones.

make sure you taper the outer cones inward to force you to cut off angles.

it's helpful to have a object that can be seen in your peripheral vision or you can feel underfoot to alarm you when you are outside of your targetted moving area

Great stuff! Thank you so much! I'll see if I can scare up some decent targets and hit with my ball machine set to oscillation mode to work on this. Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it.

 

[Lotto]

Where can I learn more about this "V" footwork?? Are there articles on sites somewhere? Tennis Player or where? Thanks.

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

Where can I learn more about this "V" footwork?? Are there articles on sites somewhere? Tennis Player or where? Thanks.

I subscribe to www.virtualtennisacademy.com myself, and in the last 6 months I've made more progress than ever before with no personal coaching whatsoever. It's not free though, so just keep that in mind. They have free samples on the first page, but none of them cover the V footwork, sorry. They do cover some very useful concepts though in the samples, such as the excessive topspin one handed backhand.

Seriously, check it out. I'm never leaving this site, ever, mark my words.

 

[pushing_wins]

I subscribe to www.virtualtennisacademy.com myself, and in the last 6 months I've made more progress than ever before with no personal coaching whatsoever. It's not free though, so just keep that in mind. They have free samples on the first page, but none of them cover the V footwork, sorry. They do cover some very useful concepts though in the samples, such as the excessive topspin one handed backhand.

Seriously, check it out. I'm never leaving this site, ever, mark my words.

still waiting for either your video or STFU response/excuse?

what will it be?

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

still waiting for either your video or STFU response/excuse?

what will it be?

I plan on posting a video for analysis on FYB, after I get some decent footage. I've been working hard and improving little by little each day, thanks to the site I've already referenced. I'd love to hear your comments on my game as well. Be sure to check it out once I get a video up. I'm always open to suggestions from anybody. I just want to play my best tennis.

 

[pushing_wins]

I plan on posting a video for analysis on FYB, after I get some decent footage. I've been working hard and improving little by little each day, thanks to the site I've already referenced. I'd love to hear your comments on my game as well. Be sure to check it out once I get a video up. I'm always open to suggestions from anybody. I just want to play my best tennis.

cant wait

check out my video. forehand stinks. backhand even worse

 

[Boris]

I've been working on this recently, and had the same problem of adapting to this kind of footwork. By the way, my understanding of it is that it should actually be an "X", not "V" footwork (that, is, you do it also when you move backwards behind the baseline).

What helped me was to play a few matches with people of lower skill. When you play a slower ball you have more time to think. This is what I do when I need to fine-tune some change in my game. At the beginning, it would feel like "Oh, that was a sharply angled ball and I should have gotten there diagonally, but I realized too late". After a few of those, I started recognizing them in advance and getting there properly. Once you do it, it feels so much better that your brain adapts immediately. It is just a matter of overcoming the initial frustration (at least, it was for me).

Just my .02